Basic Configuration (Postfix)
Introduction
Postfixには、main.cfファイルを通じて制御される数百もの設定パラメータがあります。 幸いなことに、すべてのパラメータには適切なデフォルト値が設定されています。 多くの場合、メールシステムを使い始めるには、2、3つのパラメータを設定するだけで十分です。 以下に、構文の簡単な概要を示します：
以下の説明は、ソースコードを自分でコンパイルした場合（INSTALL ファイルに記載されている手順に従う）でも、あらかじめコンパイル済みのバージョンをインストールした場合でも、システムに Postfix がすでにインストールされていることを前提としています。
このドキュメントでは、Postfix の基本的な設定について説明します。 メールハブ、ファイアウォール、ダイヤルアップクライアントなどの特定の用途に合わせて Postfix を設定する方法については、STANDARD_CONFIGURATION_README ファイルを参照してください。 ただし、以下の内容を理解するまでは、そちらに進まないでください。
最初に注目すべきパラメータは、ネットワークにおけるマシンの識別情報と役割を指定するものです。
他の多くの設定パラメータのデフォルト値は、これらに基づいて決定されます。
次に注目すべきパラメータは、ローカルのpostmaster宛てに送信されるメールの量を制御するものです：
プロキシやネットワークアドレス変換装置（NAT）を経由している場合、または他のドメインのバックアップMXホストを運用している場合は、必ず以下の設定を正しく行ってください：
Postfix デーモンプロセスはバックグラウンドで実行され、問題や通常の動作を syslog デーモンに記録します。 以下に、注意すべき点をいくつか挙げます：
お使いのマシンに特別なセキュリティ要件がある場合は、Postfix デーモンプロセスを chroot 環境内で実行することをお勧めします。
Postfixを仮想ネットワークインターフェース上で実行している場合、またはそのマシンで他のメールサーバーが仮想インターフェース上で実行されている場合は、ここに記載されている他のパラメータについても確認する必要があります：
Postfix configuration files
By default, Postfix configuration files are in /etc/postfix. The two most important files are main.cf and master.cf; these files must be owned by root. Giving someone else write permission to main.cf or master.cf (or to their parent directories) means giving root privileges to that person.
In /etc/postfix/main.cf you will have to set up a minimal number of configuration parameters. Postfix configuration parameters resemble shell variables, with two important differences: the first one is that Postfix does not know about quotes like the UNIX shell does.
You specify a configuration parameter as:
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
parameter = value
and you use it by putting a "$" character in front of its name:
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
other_parameter = $parameter
You can use $parameter before it is given a value (that is the second main difference with UNIX shell variables). The Postfix configuration language uses lazy evaluation, and does not look at a parameter value until it is needed at runtime.
Postfix uses database files for access control, address rewriting and other purposes. The DATABASE_README file gives an introduction to how Postfix works with Berkeley DB, LDAP or SQL and other types. Here is a common example of how Postfix invokes a database:
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
virtual_alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtual
Whenever you make a change to the main.cf or master.cf file, execute the following command as root in order to refresh a running mail system:
# postfix reload
What domain name to use in outbound mail
The myorigin parameter specifies the domain that appears in mail that is posted on this machine. The default is to use the local machine name, $myhostname, which defaults to the name of the machine. Unless you are running a really small site, you probably want to change that into $mydomain, which defaults to the parent domain of the machine name.
For the sake of consistency between sender and recipient addresses, myorigin also specifies the domain name that is appended to an unqualified recipient address.
Examples (specify only one of the following):
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
myorigin = $myhostname (default: send mail as "user@$myhostname")
myorigin = $mydomain (probably desirable: "user@$mydomain")
What domains to receive mail for
The mydestination parameter specifies what domains this machine will deliver locally, instead of forwarding to another machine. The default is to receive mail for the machine itself. See the VIRTUAL_README file for how to configure Postfix for hosted domains.
You can specify zero or more domain names, "/file/name" patterns and/or "type:table" lookup tables (such as hash:, btree:, nis:, ldap:, or mysql:), separated by whitespace and/or commas. A "/file/name" pattern is replaced by its contents; "type:table" requests that a table lookup is done and merely tests for existence: the lookup result is ignored.
IMPORTANT: If your machine is a mail server for its entire domain, you must list $mydomain as well.
Example 1: default setting.
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
mydestination = $myhostname localhost.$mydomain localhost
Example 2: domain-wide mail server.
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
mydestination = $myhostname localhost.$mydomain localhost $mydomain
Example 3: host with multiple DNS A records.
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
mydestination = $myhostname localhost.$mydomain localhost
www.$mydomain ftp.$mydomain
Caution: in order to avoid mail delivery loops, you must list all hostnames of the machine, including $myhostname, and localhost.$mydomain.
What clients to relay mail from
By default, Postfix will forward mail from clients in authorized network blocks to any destination. Authorized networks are defined with the mynetworks configuration parameter. The current default is to authorize the local machine only. Prior to Postfix 3.0, the default was to authorize all clients in the IP subnetworks that the local machine is attached to.
Postfix can also be configured to relay mail from "mobile" clients that send mail from outside an authorized network block. This is explained in the SASL_README and TLS_README documents.
IMPORTANT: If your machine is connected to a wide area network then the "mynetworks_style = subnet" setting may be too friendly.
Examples (specify only one of the following):
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
mynetworks_style = subnet (not safe on a wide area network)
mynetworks_style = host (authorize local machine only)
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 (authorize local machine only)
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 168.100.189.2/32 (authorize local machine)
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 168.100.189.2/28 (authorize local networks)
You can specify the trusted networks in the main.cf file, or you can let Postfix do the work for you. The default is to let Postfix do the work. The result depends on the mynetworks_style parameter value.
Specify "mynetworks_style = host" (the default when compatibility_level ≥ 2) when Postfix should forward mail from only the local machine.
Specify "mynetworks_style = subnet" (the default when compatibility_level < 2) when Postfix should forward mail from SMTP clients in the same IP subnetworks as the local machine. On Linux, this works correctly only with interfaces specified with the "ifconfig" or "ip" command.
Specify "mynetworks_style = class" when Postfix should forward mail from SMTP clients in the same IP class A/B/C networks as the local machine. Don't do this with a dialup site - it would cause Postfix to "trust" your entire provider's network. Instead, specify an explicit mynetworks list by hand, as described below.
Alternatively, you can specify the mynetworks list by hand, in which case Postfix ignores the mynetworks_style setting. To specify the list of trusted networks by hand, specify network blocks in CIDR (network/mask) notation, for example:
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
mynetworks = 168.100.189.0/28, 127.0.0.0/8
You can also specify the absolute pathname of a pattern file instead of listing the patterns in the main.cf file.
What destinations to relay mail to
By default, Postfix will forward mail from strangers (clients outside authorized networks) to authorized remote destinations only. Authorized remote destinations are defined with the relay_domains configuration parameter. The default is to authorize all domains (and subdomains) of the domains listed with the mydestination parameter.
Examples (specify only one of the following):
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
relay_domains = $mydestination (default)
relay_domains = (safe: never forward mail from strangers)
relay_domains = $mydomain (forward mail to my domain and subdomains)
What delivery method: direct or indirect
By default, Postfix tries to deliver mail directly to the Internet. Depending on your local conditions this may not be possible or desirable. For example, your system may be turned off outside office hours, it may be behind a firewall, or it may be connected via a provider who does not allow direct mail to the Internet. In those cases you need to configure Postfix to deliver mail indirectly via a relay host.
Examples (specify only one of the following):
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
relayhost = (default: direct delivery to Internet)
relayhost = $mydomain (deliver via local mailhub)
relayhost = [mail.$mydomain] (deliver via local mailhub)
relayhost = [mail.isp.tld] (deliver via provider mailhub)
The form enclosed with [] eliminates DNS MX lookups. Don't worry if you don't know what that means. Just be sure to specify the [] around the mailhub hostname that your ISP gave to you, otherwise mail may be mis-delivered.
The STANDARD_CONFIGURATION_README file has more hints and tips for firewalled and/or dial-up networks.
What trouble to report to the postmaster
You should set up a postmaster alias in the aliases(5) table that directs mail to a human person. The postmaster address is required to exist, so that people can report mail delivery problems. While you're updating the aliases(5) table, be sure to direct mail for the super-user to a human person too.
/etc/aliases:
postmaster: you
root: you
Execute the command "newaliases" after changing the aliases file. Instead of /etc/aliases, your alias file may be located elsewhere. Use the command "postconf alias_maps" to find out.
The Postfix system reports problems to the postmaster alias. You may not be interested in all types of trouble reports, so this reporting mechanism is configurable. The default is to report only serious problems (resource, software) to postmaster:
Default setting:
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
notify_classes = resource, software
The meaning of the classes is as follows:
bounce
Inform the postmaster of undeliverable mail. Either send the postmaster a copy of undeliverable mail that is returned to the sender, or send a transcript of the SMTP session when Postfix rejected mail. For privacy reasons, the postmaster copy of undeliverable mail is truncated after the original message headers. This implies "2bounce" (see below). See also the luser_relay feature. The notification is sent to the address specified with the bounce_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
2bounce
When Postfix is unable to return undeliverable mail to the sender, send it to the postmaster instead (without truncating the message after the primary headers). The notification is sent to the address specified with the 2bounce_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
delay
Inform the postmaster of delayed mail. In this case, the postmaster receives message headers only. The notification is sent to the address specified with the delay_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
policy
Inform the postmaster of client requests that were rejected because of (UCE) policy restrictions. The postmaster receives a transcript of the SMTP session. The notification is sent to the address specified with the error_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
protocol
Inform the postmaster of protocol errors (client or server side) or attempts by a client to execute unimplemented commands. The postmaster receives a transcript of the SMTP session. The notification is sent to the address specified with the error_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
resource
Inform the postmaster of mail not delivered due to resource problems (for example, queue file write errors). The notification is sent to the address specified with the error_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
software
Inform the postmaster of mail not delivered due to software problems. The notification is sent to the address specified with the error_notice_recipient configuration parameter (default: postmaster).
Proxy/NAT external network addresses
Some mail servers are connected to the Internet via a network address translator (NAT) or proxy. This means that systems on the Internet connect to the address of the NAT or proxy, instead of connecting to the network address of the mail server. The NAT or proxy forwards the connection to the network address of the mail server, but Postfix does not know this.
If you run a Postfix server behind a proxy or NAT, you need to configure the proxy_interfaces parameter and specify all the external proxy or NAT addresses that Postfix receives mail on. You may specify symbolic hostnames instead of network addresses.
IMPORTANT: You must specify your proxy/NAT external addresses when your system is a backup MX host for other domains, otherwise mail delivery loops will happen when the primary MX host is down.
Example: host behind NAT box running a backup MX host.
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
proxy_interfaces = 1.2.3.4 (the proxy/NAT external network address)
What you need to know about Postfix logging
Postfix daemon processes run in the background, and log problems and normal activity to the syslog daemon. The syslogd process sorts events by class and severity, and appends them to logfiles. The logging classes, levels and logfile names are usually specified in /etc/syslog.conf. At the very least you need something like:
/etc/syslog.conf:
mail.err /dev/console
mail.debug /var/log/maillog
After changing the syslog.conf file, send a "HUP" signal to the syslogd process.
IMPORTANT: many syslogd implementations will not create files. You must create files before (re)starting syslogd.
IMPORTANT: on Linux you need to put a "-" character before the pathname, e.g., -/var/log/maillog, otherwise the syslogd process will use more system resources than Postfix.
Hopefully, the number of problems will be small, but it is a good idea to run every night before the syslog files are rotated:
# postfix check # grep -E '(reject|warning|error|fatal|panic):' /some/log/file
The first line (postfix check) causes Postfix to report file permission/ownership discrepancies.
The second line looks for problem reports from the mail software, and reports how effective the relay and junk mail access blocks are. This may produce a lot of output. You will want to apply some postprocessing to eliminate uninteresting information.
The DEBUG_README document describes the meaning of the "warning" etc. labels in Postfix logging.
Running Postfix daemon processes chrooted
Postfix daemon processes can be configured (via the master.cf file) to run in a chroot jail. The processes run at a fixed low privilege and with file system access limited to the Postfix queue directories (/var/spool/postfix). This provides a significant barrier against intrusion. The barrier is not impenetrable (chroot limits file system access only), but every little bit helps.
With the exception of Postfix daemons that deliver mail locally and/or that execute non-Postfix commands, every Postfix daemon can run chrooted.
Sites with high security requirements should consider to chroot all daemons that talk to the network: the smtp(8) and smtpd(8) processes, and perhaps also the lmtp(8) client. The author's own porcupine.org mail server runs all daemons chrooted that can be chrooted.
The default /etc/postfix/master.cf file specifies that no Postfix daemon runs chrooted. In order to enable chroot operation, edit the file /etc/postfix/master.cf, and follow instructions in the file. When you're finished, execute "postfix reload" to make the change effective.
Note that a chrooted daemon resolves all filenames relative to the Postfix queue directory (/var/spool/postfix). For successful use of a chroot jail, most UNIX systems require you to bring in some files or device nodes. The examples/chroot-setup directory in the source code distribution has a collection of scripts that help you set up Postfix chroot environments on different operating systems.
Additionally, you almost certainly need to configure syslogd so that it listens on a socket inside the Postfix queue directory. Examples of syslogd command line options that achieve this for specific systems:
FreeBSD: syslogd -l /var/spool/postfix/var/run/log
Linux, OpenBSD: syslogd -a /var/spool/postfix/dev/log
My own hostname
The myhostname parameter specifies the fully-qualified domain name of the machine running the Postfix system. $myhostname appears as the default value in many other Postfix configuration parameters.
By default, myhostname is set to the local machine name. If your local machine name is not in fully-qualified domain name form, or if you run Postfix on a virtual interface, you will have to specify the fully-qualified domain name that the mail system should use.
Alternatively, if you specify mydomain in main.cf, then Postfix will use its value to generate a fully-qualified default value for the myhostname parameter.
Examples (specify only one of the following):
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
myhostname = host.local.domain (machine name is not FQDN)
myhostname = host.virtual.domain (virtual interface)
myhostname = virtual.domain (virtual interface)
My own domain name
The mydomain parameter specifies the parent domain of $myhostname. By default, it is derived from $myhostname by stripping off the first part (unless the result would be a top-level domain).
Conversely, if you specify mydomain in main.cf, then Postfix will use its value to generate a fully-qualified default value for the myhostname parameter.
Examples (specify only one of the following):
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
mydomain = local.domain
mydomain = virtual.domain (virtual interface)
My own network addresses
The inet_interfaces parameter specifies all network interface addresses that the Postfix system should listen on; mail addressed to "user@[network address]" will be delivered locally, as if it is addressed to a domain listed in $mydestination.
You can override the inet_interfaces setting in the Postfix master.cf file by prepending an IP address to a server name.
The default is to listen on all active interfaces. If you run mailers on virtual interfaces, you will have to specify what interfaces to listen on.
IMPORTANT: If you run MTAs on virtual interfaces you must specify explicit inet_interfaces values for the MTA that receives mail for the machine itself: this MTA should never listen on the virtual interfaces or you would have a mailer loop when a virtual MTA is down.
Example: default setting.
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
inet_interfaces = all
Example: host running one or more virtual mailers. For each Postfix instance, specify only one of the following.
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
inet_interfaces = virtual.host.tld (virtual Postfix)
inet_interfaces = $myhostname localhost... (non-virtual Postfix)
Note: you need to stop and start Postfix after changing this parameter.